Legacy of War + Heritage of War by James Joshua & Young Daniel

Author:James, Joshua & Young, Daniel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-31T00:00:00+00:00

18

Foster stared at the Threqa clutching the ship’s doctor, whose face now turned red from the pressure on her windpipe. The ship shook, throwing personnel against the bulkheads or to the floors. But this creature held tight to Tamarin.

“Buckner,” called Carter, without taking his eyes off the creature. “Get us the hell out of here.”

“The controls are sluggish, sir.”

“Do it,” ordered Carter, as if saying it made it so. The engine whine shuddered through the ship as it picked up speed, and the Threqa looked toward Carter, probably wondering at the captain’s audacity to continue to issue commands in this situation.

That’s when Foster charged.

A battle cry rose from deep within him, born of years of frustrating warfare facing a relentless enemy. He had lost too many friends and comrades to let one more die. He screamed as he propelled his body toward the alien that held Tamarin, and grabbed the arm that held her and yanked hard. Instinctively, he placed his right foot behind the imposter’s left and pivoted to face its back, twisting its arm up and behind.

The Threqa screamed as the deck shook under them from the Walker Pierce II’s forward motion. Nurse Patty stepped forward and yanked Tamarin from the alien. With her freed, Foster continued his assault. He twisted the arm, which would result in severe damage to a human, but the alien let her appendage lengthen as if it was a piece of pulled taffy. Then the alien whipped her arm and slapped Foster in the face so hard it threw him against the bulkhead.

Pain shot through his spine, stunning him. The Threqa slid the elongated arm around Foster’s neck and squeezed.

Then the MP tasked with guarding the office door fired over the railing into the alien’s back. It screamed once more as the noxious odor of its burnt flesh filled the cabin. But instead of dropping, it turned and fled to the bridge door, ripped it right off the hardened hinges, and fled into the hallway.

Foster glanced at Shu. “You okay?”

She nodded.

“Okay,” he said, and started for the door.

“Wait,” said Carter. “Let the SEALs handle it, Foster.”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s an order. Melia, pass an order to the SEALs to capture the Shu look-alike. Alert them. It’s an alien of unknown capabilities. It will be heading to the brig. If necessary, terminate it.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Foster glanced at the battle board. At least twenty battleships lit up the space around the Walker Pierce II. A trio of Kaxek fighter groups was bearing down on the largest warship, which was the one McWarren had crazily boarded and sent them a message from.

“Captain,” said Brennan over the PA. “I’ve pushed these sad-sack engines as far as I can. Either we power the working one down or we risk blowing that one too. And I tell you, Captain, we don’t have enough water to rewash the engine room.”

Carter cast his gaze down and pursed his lips. “Okay, Chief. Buckner, slow to one quarter. Allow the ship to continue by inertia.”

Carter walked to the battle board and made adjustments to the readings.

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